Jordan Spurgeon
With the MLB All-Star game happening tonight, the Arizona Diamondbacks (49-48) are enjoying a much needed week off. Minus Torey Lovullo who is managing the National League and Ketel Marte who’s starting at second base and leading off.
Deep in the heart of Texas. pic.twitter.com/lAKtglMJnT
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 16, 2024
The snakes sit one game back of the third NL Wild Card spot with two and a half months to go. The three teams currently in are the Atlanta Braves (53-42), St. Louis Cardinals (50-46), and New York Mets (49-46).
Injuries are the story for Arizona through 97 games.
Eduardo Rodriguez is yet to pitch. Merrill Kelly hasn’t pitched since April 15. Zac Gallen missed a month and has been up and down this season. Alek Thomas missed 81 games. Geraldo Perdomo has only played 34. Paul Sewald missed the first two months. Gabriel Moreno missed time and was slow offensively the first three months.
Corbin Carroll was hovering below the .200 batting average line for most of the year (sitting at .212 now), and his power numbers are waaaaayyyyyyy down (5 HR, 16 doubles). Eugenio Suárez has been nearly cut twice due to almost no production at the plate in the first 70 plus games. He’s hitting .333 with four home runs and 16 RBI in his last 15 games.
Jordan Montgomery, who signed right before Opening Day, has been terrible and is now on the inured list. His ERA is 6.44 and WHIP is 1.68.
Despite the injuries and slow starts by star players, the Diamondbacks are in a powerful position. The San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, and Chicago Cubs are within three games of the Diamondbacks spot.
Rodriguez and Kelly are expected to be back in early August. Montgomery will be back within two weeks. All the injured position players are back.
All of the players mentioned above will play important roles in a playoff push that will most likely come down to the final week of the season.
What this means
With all of the above said, Mike Hazen and company have lots of thinking to do ahead of the July 30 deadline.
It seems, the best “moves” are going to be injury returns.
Last year Sewald and Tommy Pham were the deadline boosts that propelled the D-Backs to the postseason and ultimately a World Series Appearance. Trades may not be what has that effect this year, but trades to help certainly aren’t off the table.
One move that may already have a similar impact to the moves above, is the debut of Yilber Diaz. Through two starts the 23-year-old right hander is impressing and may have a role to play in a potential postseason rotation.
Five days ago, Yilber Diaz made a statement in Major League debut.
Before he takes the bump tonight, you should know the path he took to get here and how unlikely it was just a few years ago. pic.twitter.com/mU8No4n53q
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 14, 2024
Ryne Nelson is turning into a consistent starter. Brandon Pfaadt has been the most consistent so far. Gallen will figure it out.
The bullpen is solid despite recent struggles from Sewald. But Lovullo has faith in him. Kevin Ginkel, Justin Martinez, and Ryan Thompson are a solid combo. Joe Mantiply is the one lefty that pitches often, so maybe adding another southpaw in the pen makes sense.
There is always room for more pitching, so there will be some names to mention (more on that further down).
On the offensive side, there aren’t any moves that make sense. Christian Walker is having a career year at first base (SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN ALL-STAR). Marte will finish top-five in MVP voting. Perdomo is the shortstop and heart of the clubhouse. Suárez is heating up. Thomas, Carroll, Jake McCarthy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are a great outfield. Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk are a phenomenal DH duo.
There’s no room for a starter or bench bat that would elevate this team.
The one caveat is if Suárez struggles the final two months. But, there are internal answers at third base. Kevin Newman is a serviceable backup infielder. Blaze Alexander was great for two months in the Big Leagues. He’s struggling in AAA, but the flashes this season could lead to a role back in Arizona down the stretch.
IF, Hazen wants insurance at third base, there may be a platoon-type player to deal for. I don’t know a name that would be an upgrade at this point.
Before we look at potential pitchers to trade for, here’s a few postseason rotation possibilities for Arizona as the roster is currently constructed.
- Gallen, Kelly, Pfaadt, Rodriguez (Nelson and Diaz move to the bullpen, Montgomery maybe left off the roster or moved to bullpen).
- Gallen, Kelly or Rodriguez, Pfaadt, Nelson (Diaz moves to bullpen, one of Kelly or Rodriguez struggles or stays hurt, Montgomery left off roster or moved to bullpen).
- Gallen, Pfaadt, Kelly, Rodriguez or Montgomery (Nelson and Diaz move to the bullpen, Montgomery pitches well before playoffs and earns a spot).
- Gallen, Pfaadt, Nelson, Diaz or Montgomery (This happens if Kelly and Rodriguez aren’t healthy and/or struggle heavily when they return).
There are more possibilities depending on health, who’s pitching the best, and of course potential trades.
Again, the Diamondbacks do not need to mortgage the future at the deadline this year. But, pitching is always in demand so it won’t hurt to test the market.
Potential pitchers to trade for
Garrett Crochet (LHP, Chicago White Sox)
This would be a big swing, and would likely require top prospects like Jordan Lawler and Druw Jones plus others. Maybe even a big league guy.
However, if Hazen believes the health of this team is turning the corner and a deep postseason run is imminent, this south paw makes sense.
No one knows if Crochet is a starting pitcher long-term. He’s thrown 107 1/3 innings so far, which is 20 more than he’s ever thrown in a full season out of the bullpen. His 150 strikeouts to 23 walks are the best in baseball this year. He’s also only 25-years-old with club control though 2026.
Garrett Crochet was on another level in June 📈 pic.twitter.com/YWGj6o1GwQ
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 3, 2024
If Arizona makes the deal, he could be a starter for a few weeks. Then, if Kelly and Rodriguez return and pitch well, Crochet could become an elite and versatile bullpen arm. You add him alongside all the righties in the bullpen and you start seeing a scary match up for opposing playoff teams. Think playoff Madison Bumgarner-type of scary.
This trade isn’t likely but don’t count it out.
Tyler Anderson (LHP, Los Angeles Angels)
The 34-year-old is an All-Star for the second time in three years. He’s an older option for Arizona, but if Montgomery continues to be ineffective, he could be a solid replacement.
Anderson is 8-8 with a 2.97 ERA on the season. He’s under contract through next season.
Tyler Anderson made his longest scoreless start of the season, throwing 8 shutout innings. 👏#RepTheHalo x @NationalPro pic.twitter.com/qsihq7c2Po
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) July 6, 2024
A trade for him is not a big splash, but the Diamondbacks don’t need to make a big splash. He would just be insurance for a rotation that’s struggling with injuries. No one wants to see playoff games with Arizona using openers every series.
Notice how there are only two names on this trade deadline list. Both are All-Stars, both offer depth and flexibility in the pitching staff. Neither is required for this team to reach its goal of hoisting the World Series trophy.
If the roster stays healthy now and Kelly and Rodriguez return and pitch well, this team is going to make the playoffs. If they get in, anything can happen.
That’s the beauty of baseball.
